The New York Yankees bullpen could look much different in 2026 due to multiple impact relievers being free agents.
Luke Weaver is one of the impact free agents for the Yankees, and he should have several teams interested in him. MLB insider Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report predicts Weaver will leave the Yankees and sign with the San Diego Padres.
However, Reuter believes Weaver will sign as a starter and become the Padres‘ fourth starter.
“With Dylan Cease and Michael King both departing and Yu Darvish out for the season, the Padres will focus their offseason efforts on filling out the rotation, but don’t be surprised if they get creative,” Reuter wrote. “Luke Weaver has said he is open to returning to a starting role after finding success in the Yankees bullpen.
Weaver would be an intriguing starting option, but he could fill that role with the Yankees. New York will be without Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon to begin the season, so New York needs some more starters to begin the season, so Weaver could start before shifting back to the bullpen once they are healthy.
However, Reuter predicts Weaver will be leaving the Yankees for the Padres in an intriguing move.
Weaver went 4-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 62 games last season with the Yankees.
What is Weaver Predicted to Get in Free Agency?
Given that Weaver could sign as a starter, his free agent market could be one to watch.
If Weaver is a starter, he’s a fourth or fifth starter, but in the bullpen, he has been much better, which is why many expect him to sign as a reliever.
MLBTradeRumors predicts Weaver will sign a two-year, $18 million deal this offseason, which is good money for a sixth- seventh inning guy in the bullpen.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, meanwhile, predicts Weaver will sign a three-year, $30 million deal this offseason.
“Weaver came out of nowhere to transition from a mediocre starter to a dominating reliever in 2024,” McDaniel wrote. “His fastball velocity slipped and his ERA jumped a bit in 2025, though his peripherals were pretty similar. I think Weaver’s market should be at two or three years and at roughly $10 million per year.”
If a team does sign Weaver as a starter, it will likely cost more to sign the 32-year-old.
Yankees’ Weaver Open to Starting Again
Although Weaver was a dominant reliever last season, he’s open to becoming a starting pitcher again.
When asked about the chances of signing as a starting pitcher this offseason, Weaver said the door is open to be a starter.
“I would say, look, the door is open,” Weaver said to Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman on their podcast back in September. “I am never going to just say ‘absolutely not.’ Like, ‘Hey, when the time comes, let’s talk about it. What does that look like?’”
Weaver, meanwhile, believes he would be able to handle the workload. He also points to the likes of Seth Lugo and Michael King of relievers who had success as starters as reasons why he wants to return as a starter.
“It’s cool to see that it’s possible, too,” Weaver said. “We see it’s happening from time to time now. Teams are being a little more strategic. And yes, I’m very much open to it. But I also am not just like, ‘Yeah, I want to go do that,’ or ‘Yeah, I want to go do this.’ Let’s sit at the table, let’s have a conversation and see what that looks like, what best (positions) me to be the most successful. I would like to have those options if they are there.”
Weaver has started 106 games in his MLB career.
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